01 September 2006
An Italian politician has used the "Work makes you free" slogan that topped the gates at Auschwitz in a brochure to promote local job centers. Tommaso Coletti, president of Italy's southern Chieti province and a member of the Italian Senate for the center-left Marguerita party, wrote "Work makes you free. I don't remember where I read this phrase but it was one of those quotes that have an instant impact on you because they tell an immense truth." Coletti could not be reached for comment and the regional job centers were also unavailable. The Italian news agency ANSA reported that the governor of the Abruzzi region, which includes Coletti's province, apologized to Italy's Jewish community. Riccardo Pacifici, vice-president of the Jewish community of Rome, declared that it was "unbelievable that a politician from an anti-fascist party can be the author of a text like this one."
